Background*

Mr. Paul Guy Desmarais, Jr., P.C., O.C., O.Q., has been the Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Power Corporation of Canada since 1996. Mr. Desmarais also serves as a Managing Director at Pargesa Holding S.A. Prior to joining Power Corporation of Canada in 1981, he was at S.G. Warburg & Co. Limited and Standard Brands Incorporated. He was Investment Professional at Lionshare Group, Inc. He was Investment Professional at Goldman Sachs Private Capital Investing. ... He serves as the Chairman of Advisory Board at Sagard. He served as Co-Chairman of the Board at Power Financial Corporation since May 2008. He served as the Chairman of the Board of Power Financial Corporation until May 09, 2005. He served as Vice-Chairman at Groupe Bruxelles Lambert since May 2011. He serves as the Chairman at Pargesa Holding S.A. He served as a Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Imerys SA. since May 7, 1998. He served as a Vice Chairman of Imerys S.A. He has been an Independent Director of Great-West Lifeco Inc. since May 15, 1986. Mr. Desmarais has been Independent Director at Total SA (Total Fina Elf S.A). since 2002. He has been a Director of SGS SA since July 2013. Mr. Desmarais has been a Director of Lafarge S.A., since January 2008; Groupe Bruxelles Lambert since 1990 and Power Corporation of Canada since May 1988. He serves as a Director of IGM Financial Inc. and also served as its Director since September 22, 1983; First Great West Life & Annuity Insurance Co. since 1997 and The Great-West Life Assurance Company since July 24, 1984. He served as Member of International Advisory Council at Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. He served as a Director at Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Co. since 1991. He served as a Director of Pargesa Holding S.A since 1992. He served as a Director of Power Financial Corporation since April 1983. He served as a Director of Gwl&a Financial Inc. since 1998 and served as a Director at Investors Group Inc. Mr. Desmarais served as a Director of London Insurance Group Inc., La Presse Ltée. He served as a Director of SGS Korea Co., Ltd. He served as a Director at Canada Life Financial Corporation since July 10, 2003. He served as an Independent Director of GDF SUEZ S.A. from April 14, 1998 to April 28, 2014. He served as Director at Mackenzie Financial Corporation and London Life Insurance Company. He served as Director of Great-West Life Capital Trust since July 24, 1984. He served as a Director of The Canada Life Assurance Company since July 10, 2003; He served as a Director of Electrafina SA. He serves as Chairman of the Advisory Committee Europe at Private Equity Partners, Inc. He served as the Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Private Equity Partners Europe (France) and Director of Gesca Ltée of La Presse Ltée (Canada). He served as Member of Global Advisory Board at Council on Foreign Relations, Inc. He served as Member of the Supervisory Board at Imerys S.A. since October 3, 1991. He served as Director of Imerys S.A. He served as Director of Gaz de France SA. He served as Director of International Power S.A. (Suez-Tractebel SA) since 1993. He served as Director of Rhodia SA. He is a Member of the International Council and Director of the European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD); Chairman of the International Advisory Committee of l’École des Hautes Études Commerciales; and Chairman of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference 2004. Mr. Desmarais is involved in charitable and community activities in Montréal. He received a degree in Business Studies from McGill University in Montreal and an M.B.A. degree from INSEAD in 1980. He has received Doctorates Honoris Causa from Université Laval, the Université de Montréal and from McGill University.

Former Co-Chairman, Chairman of Executive Committee, Chairman of Governance & Nominating Committee, Chairman of Power Corporation of Canada and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Power Corporation of Canada

Former Director, Member of Compensation Committee, Member of Executive Committee, Member of Investment Committee, Member of Governance & Nominating Committee and Director of Canada Life Assurance Company

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